Camouflage fabricating machine



Aug. 1, 1944- w. E. MEYER Er AL 2,354,755

CAMOUFLAG [i FAHR ICA'I] HG MACH 1N 3 Filed Aug. l0, 1942 AITORNE v.

Aug. l, 1944.

W. E. MEYER ETAL CAMOUFLAGE FABRIC/mmc; MACHINE Filed Aug. 10, 1942 3 Sheets-Shnt 2 Wil] JAyrmmr MT Eb- Aug. l, W. E MEYER ET AL CAMOUFI-AGE FAHR I CATING MACHINE Filed Aug. l0, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTDRS. )ML/zam .25. M'e' ver: Y f/oward h. 'OZ zfror.

Patented I Aug. l, 1944 UAMOUFLAGE ABBIUATING MACHINE William E. Meyer, Detroit, Mich., and Howl-rd W. Gallina, Newark, Ohio; laid Meyer assigner to Parker-Wolverine Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan. and said Collina assignor to wenaCorning Fiberglas Corporation. Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application August 10, INI. Serial No. 454.278

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to machines for fabricating camouflage, and particularly to machines for depositing and securing a fibrous material, such as fibrous glass. onto a wire mesh backing member.

One of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide a fabricating machine of the type mentioned by which camouflage may be quickly fabricated in large quantities.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved feed means in machines of the type mentioned whereby cords of fibrous material are disposed onto a wire mesh backing member in a novel manner.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following specification, the drawings relating thereto. and from the claims hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings, in which like numerals are used to designate like parts in the several views throughout:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of machine embodying features of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a broken side elevational view of the structure shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top pian view of the structure shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the structure shown in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Figure 4: and,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the camouflage fabricated in the machine shown in Figures 1 through 5.

According to the present invention, a camou nage fabricating machine is provided in which cords of fibrous glass are deposited onto a wire mesh backing member and are secured thereto. The fibrous glass is in the form oftlber strands, known in the trade as glass fiber sliver. roving or yarn. The wire mesh backing member. in the embodkncnt illustrated, is in the form of ordinary chicken wire, which is bonderizcd prior to the application of the iibrous glass thereto. After the fibxoua llana il applied to the backing member and muted thereto, it ia coiled into rolls and thereafter the camouflage is pointed. The presant machine is concerned with the application ol the fibrous glass to the backing member andthe securing of it thereto.

In the illutti'atcd form of th .f invention, cords of nbre/ta: gian are disposed lofxitudinauy er the 'komaahbackingmemberandother cords are disposed transversely thereof and criss-crossed in superimposed relation to the longitudinal cords. Longitudinal wires are then disposed on the cords and such wires are stapied to the backing member, thereby holding tile fibrous glass in place.

Referring to the drawings, in Figures 1 through 6, an illustrative embodiment of the present invention is shown in detail. Such embodiment includes a table support, generally indicated at i0. Another frame i2 ls disposed adjacent one end of the table l0 and spaced therefrom. A roll Il of wire mesh. in the form of chicken wire. is rotatably mounted on a shaft il (Figure 4) which may be received within notches formed in the frame member i2 providing bearings therefor. Another mounting frame, generally indicated at i8, is disposed between the table i0 and the frame i2. Such frame il includes longitudinal side members 20 and upstnnding frame members 22. The upstanding frame members are connected together by' transverse frame members 2l.

The wire mesh i4 is feci over the table iland in passing to the table it passes under transversely extending guide bars 2i which are mounted in brackets on the frame member il and which are so disposed that the mesh il travels first horizontally and then upwardly onto the surface of the table i0.

The mesh i4 is pulled along the table II by a coiling means. generally indicated at 2l. Such coiling means 28 is disposed at the opposite end of the table i0 and lncludes'a coiiing shaft or drum 30 about which the wire mesh. having the fibrous glass thereon, is wound. The shaft or drum has a disc 32 secured to one end thereof which serves to guide one edge of the mesh as it is being wound on the shaft. The shaft is removably mounted within bearings 84 disposed on a mounting frame. When the shaft is mounted on the bearings. it is operatively connected te a drive means which includes an electric motor Il, n variable speed reducer and a chain drive 41, which drives the shaft through a gear 4l.

As the mcsl. Il is drawn toward and along the table Il. the cords of fibrous glass are deposited thereon. Such cords of fibrous glass are in the form of a plurality of glass fibres gathered into a staple sliver strand. The cords are wound in spooiaand certain of auch spools 4l are mounted on spindles M which are mounted on transverse members of an upetanding frame 4I. disposed in line with the table il and beyond the roll of mesh Il.

The spools Il have discs Il secured to the ends thereof and the cords Il oi' the fibrous glars slide around the peripheral edse of the discs Il as the cords are unwoimd from the spools. This assists in proper unwindinu of the spools. As the cords pass from the spools, they are passed through guide eyes II- (Fis, 2), which are in the form of pirtails and aro mounted on rods it. Buch rods It are mounted to the frame 4l and there is one of such rodsfor each oi the spools. Buch eyes Il serve to properly position the cords for disposition onto the wire mesh, and keep them separated from each other. The cords l2 then pass downwardly to s position substantially level with the top of the roll il and are then passed through other guide eyes Il (Fig. t) which are also in the form of pigtalis. Buch guide eyes Il are mounted on s transverse member l0' of the frame I2 rnd extend transversely of the mesh I4. Each o! the cords is passed through one of the guide eyes Il and such cords then pass onto the wim mesh I4 extending longitudinally thereof. In getting the machine started, such cords may merely be tied to the wire mesh and such wire mesh will then pull the cords along with it as it travels toward and over the table Il). In the event that any of the cords Il break during the operation of the machine. it is merely necessary to tie the broken end to the mesh. The mesh Il with the longitudinally extending cords I1 thereon pass under the guido bars 1I (Figs. 2 and 6) and upwardly onto the surface of the table Il.

Other cords of fibrous gloss ll are disposed transversely of the wire mesh by means, generally indicated at Il, which are mounted on the transverse members M of the frame Il.

The cords Il (Fig. i) are disposed around longitudinally extending sido wires Il. Buch wires Il are pulled from the wire coils 08,. which are rotatably mounted on a suitable spindle. Buch spindle is mounted upon arms It. which are se. cured to the frame il adjacent the upstanding frame members 21 and the transverse frame members 24. Such wire members N pass through hollow shafts "It, which ars mounted within bearings 12. Buch bearinzs ll are mounted on the transverse frame members 24 adjacent the side ends thereof.

The shafts ll (Fiss. i and d) project forwardly of the frame members Il and have mils, or drums, 'H fixed thereto for rotation therewith. Buch drums 1l have an endless belt 'Il received there around, and such belt is caused to travel in the direction of the arrow (Figure 3) when one of the rolls ll is driven by its shalt 1l.

Each of the cords Il is wound on a spool lt, and a plurality ci suchspools is mounted to the belt 'It for movement therewith. Each spool 'il is mounted on a spindle Il. Each spindle Il is mounted on an outwardly proiting arm of a mounting bracket Il. Each bracket Il is secured to the belt 1l for movement therewith.

AiruidediseNisflxedtotheforwai-dendof each of the mlndlea Il. o that the oord Il travels themaroixnd ad lt il unwmmd from lin spool. Rach oord is thon passed through a guido cya Il, which is formed on the forwardly Pwicoting end of the bracket Il.

Astlssbeltllrotatitwilibesnpreciated thstthestrandsllmmcvedtransveraelrotihe mesh il sndarepassedaroundtnesidewnesu in a criss-erom fashion.

Thodrivingdnnn'll tl'lsaiandt) maybe suitably driven throusii a sproctet al, which is ltsyedtocuoondoftheshaftll. Thsspxocketu isdriventhmushaehaindrivs0,whiehisdiiven mataron through another sprocket l! of a variable spoed reducer I4. Buch reducer N is driven by an electrie motor It.

It will be appreciated that the degree of ooncentrsnon er the transverse memberl Il 0m' l Elven are.; may be varied by varying the relativo speed oi the beit 1s smi the spoed of the mesh along the table.

The wires Il are secured to the mesh alonl uw edges thereof, so sn to pull the wires ll together with the strands Il along with the mesh and the longitudinal strands.

In order to provide Proper tauizless in the wires Il and for applying an adhesive thereto. each of such wires is passed through s container il (Figs. 4 and 5). Such container is best shown in Figure 5. and each of such containers is mounted on one of the arms Il adjacent the coils Il. The wire N is adapted to poss through an aperture I! formed in one end of the container Il and then pass through other aligned apertures lli formed in a nut |02, which is welded to the bottom of the container. A ball i is received in the axial aperture of the nut. and such ball frictionally engages the wires Il as it passes through the nut and resists its movement therethrough sufficiently to provide a tautness in the wires Il. The ball Ill is resiiiently urged toward the bottom of the nut by means of a depending finger of a U-shaped member Ill.

Buch U-shsped member I" has an aperture therethrough through which an upstanding bolt itl passes. The head of such bolt may be welded to the bottom of the container Il. and a spiral spring i I0 is received therearound above themember IN. The lower end of such spring I Il resiliently bears against the member i". and the upper end abuis against the washer il! whichis held in place by a nut I il. It will be appreciated thrt the resiliency may be varied by turning the nu i In order to apply an adhesive to the wires Il. a liquid adhesive iil is disposed in the receptacle 98. Buch adhesive, in the embodiment illustrated. is a tacky varnish.

its the wires Il leave the hollow shaft 1I, they are held to their proper width by guide rollers ill. Buch guide rollers I Il are rotatably mounted on brackets itil, which, in tum, are fixed to one of the transverse members I4. The rollers are so positioned that the wires N are spaced apart the width of the mesh in the resion at which the cords It are wound turnaround. It will be appreciated thatssthecordsarewmindthsrearmmdtheyengaze thewires Il andihetackymaterialoumch wireswilladheretotheglasscordsandinsure their proper positioning thereon and prevent displacement.

The wires 8|, having the cords Il attached thereto approach the table Il substantially level therewith, and are superimposed upon the longi tudinal strands Il and the wire mesh Il. The wire mesh having the oords l! and Il thereon ia then moved along the tabla Il. In order to euro the lonlltudinal glass cords to tl.. backing inamber Il, s plurality of ooils llt of wim III are rotatably mounted on vertical spindles ist. Buen spindles ill are mounted en a transverse frame member ill which is disposed in spaced relation labove the table it and mounted tinnen no that the oamouiiase passes thereunder.

Theendsofthewires iumaybsinitiallynnsd totbemeshilsothatasthameahmensthenalongitpnlisthewirelacnswlthit. Buhwirea luaredisposedatpndstarmlnodspaoenintsr.

mastino-.i

I the mesh.

The wires |24 are adapted to be secured to the wire mesh I4 by means of a stapling device. generally indicated at Ill. Eiuch stapling device III includes a transversely extending frame il! which is disposed above the top surface oi the table il and has depending side members ill provided with rollers itl on the lower ends thereof. Such rollers itl are received on trackways i" formed on the sides of the table il so that the frame may move therealong. Coil springs i are secured to the table and tothe side members I" to normally pull the frame rearwardly of the table.

The stapling device |30 includes conventional stapling members III. Buch stapling members I are of the conventional typo having an underdie which cooperates with the forward end of a pivoted magasine arm. The staples, which are Ushspcd. are disposed in the magasine and are fed toward the die end thereof. As the pivoted arm is moved downwardly against the die it will be appreciated that the staples are ejected therefrom and clinched in the usual way. The forward ends of the pivoted arms are connected to a transverse bar ill which is pivotaily connected to the depending end of a piston rod of an air cylinder Ill. Buch air cylinder Ml is provided with the usual ports on opposite sides of the piston and conventional control and valve means is provided for introducing air under pressure to lopposite sides of the piston for the purpose of depressing or raising the piston rod to move the bar i down or up. The down movement of the bar, of course, eiects the stapling operation.

There is one of such stapling devices Il! provided for each of the wires |14 and the end wires Il. and during the stapling operation the wires |14 and Il are secured to the mesh il. During the clinching. it will be appreciated that the staples are fixed to the moving mesh. The rollers ill thus permit limited movement of the stapiing device lll along with the mesh during such engagement. When the staples are released, the spring I will return the frame to its initial position for the next stapling operation. The air cylinder i may be operated at suitable intervals so that the ciinching may take place at suitable intervals along the camouflage.

The camouflage consisting of the wire mesh having the cords of nbrous glass secured thereto is received on the coiled drum, as described above. When a predetermined amount of such camouflags has been coiled. the strip is cut transversely of the table adJacent the collina device. The coiled roll may then be removed shaft replaced for the next roll.

What is claimed is:

l. ln a machine for fabricating Clllwunlfh an elongated support. means mountlnl W1 mesh supply adlacent one end of said support. means for moving said mesh along said support. means mounting a plurlllty 0f Cords 0f brous material adjacent said one end and above said elongated support. means for feeding said cords of fibrous material longitudinally of said mesh and for superimposing said cords on said mesh. means mounting a plurality of other cords of fibrous material above said support. means for disposing thread elements above the longitudinal edges of said mesh. means for applying saiJ other cords of fibrous material around said thread elements transverselyA of 'said mesh and in crossed relation to said first named cords. and means for disposing said other cords on said longitudinal cords.

2. In a machine for fabricating camouage, an elongated supportI means mounting a wire mesh supply adjacent one end of said support. means for moving said mesh along said support. means mounting a plurality of cords of fibrous material adjacent said one end and above said elongated support. means for feeding said cords of fibrous material longitudinally of said mesh and for superimposlng said cords on aaid mesh, means mounting a plurality of other cords o! fibrous material above said support, means for disposing thread elements above the longitudinal edges of said mesh. means for applying an adhesive to said thread elements, means for applying said other cords of fibrous material around said thread elements transversely of laid mesh and in crossed relation to said first named corda. and means for disposing said other cords on said longitudinal cords.

3. In a machine for fabricating camouflage, an elongated support, means mounting a wiso mesh supply adJacent one end of said support. means for moving said mesh along said support. means mounting a plurality of cords of brous material adjacent said one end and above laid elongated support. means for feeding said cords of fibrous material longitudinally of said mesh and for superimposing said cords on said mesh, means mounting a plurality of other cords of fibrous material above said support. means i'osI disposing thread elements above the longitudinal edgm of said mosh. means for applying aald other cords of fibrous material around said thread elements transversely of said mesh and in crossed relationtosaidilratnamedcordaandmaans for applrius threads of wire iongi e! tr-.emeshinsuperimpoaedrelationtolaidcorfh at spaced intervals thereacrnss.

v WILLIAM l. mm HOWARD W. 0mm 

